Taking first place at the National Association of Home Builders student competition Jan. 18 in Las Vegas, the MSU Construction Management Program returned home with a traveling trophy and a $1,000 cash award.

Starting in October and working through most of winter vacation, six construction management students compiled a book and organized a formal oral presentation for the competition.

Sheryl Maibach, vice-president of Southfield-based Barton Malow Co., a construction company, helped the group with its presentation skills. Bloomfield Hills-based Pulte Homes financially supported the team.

The team included construction schedules, financial estimates and other data on a subdivision already being built in Minnesota. The team then presented its book to a panel of industry judges.

"Judges rate the students on the different components of the project, like it hasn't been started yet, like it hasn't been given approval," Coach Douglas Cron said. "It's as real of a business setting as you can create."

In fact, team members said, after winning the honor, many recruiters at the competition approached them with possible job offers.

"Guys were falling all over themselves," said Ryan McGuire, a building construction management senior. "They know you by name. They run to you, trying to get your attention, to talk to you."

A new idea that came to the team this year was to practice the presentation in the same convention room prior to the actual competition.

"They knew the room, they knew the environment and felt at home in the room," Cron said. "The day of the presentation, it was just like a well-oiled machine."

The team's dynamic interaction also added to the ease in the presentation, said assistant coach, Paul Streng.

"The individuals developed together as a team: They were able to assist one another when one would need help and another would have that strength," he said.